Trusted by the largest industrial companies, our programs have honed the leadership skills of frontline supervisors across North America.
We're dedicated to helping your frontline leaders effectively oversee the shop floor and take steps toward driving positive change.
Training that fits your organization
In-Person & Virtual Workshops
Choose onsite or virtual workshops to fit your needs. These sessions work well for training single or multiple groups across shifts or locations, ensuring consistent and impactful learning for all leaders.
On-Demand Leadership Training
Our on-demand training is available anytime, anywhere, allowing leaders to quickly master new skills. This flexible format is perfect for busy schedules, enabling ongoing professional development without the need for synchronized learning.
Public Workshops
Public workshops provide frontline leaders with a chance to enhance their skills in a group setting. These sessions bring together participants from different companies, fostering collaboration and learning through shared insights and diverse experiences.
One Day Workshops
Our one-day workshops offer focused leadership training, delivering actionable insights in a time-efficient format. They emphasize core leadership principles and practical skills that can be quickly applied to daily operations.
30 +
Years of Experience
600 +
Organizations Trained
14,000 +
Leaders Trained
By investing in leadership training, you're equipping your team to handle current challenges and stay ready for what's ahead.
Explore Our Topics
Our training programs create lasting impact by combining interactive sessions, practical applications, and continuous support. With hands-on exercises, real-world scenarios, and tools like the Leader Behavior Builder, we ensure new skills are embedded into daily operations and reinforced through ongoing coaching.
Front Line Leadership: Strengthen Essentials Program
(3 full-day or 6 half-day sessions)
Expectations of a Front Line Leader
Leadership Styles
Motivating and Engaging Team Members
AND MORE!
Front Line Leadership: Drive Performance Program
(2 full-day or 4 half-day sessions)
Stress Resilience
Time and Priority Management
Problem Solving & Decision Making
AND MORE!
Front Line Leadership: Amplify Impact Program
(2 full-day or 4 half-day sessions)
Embrace Cultural Awareness
Converting Problems into Action
Coaching for Performance
AND MORE!
Team Leader Essentials Program
(1- or 2-full-day sessions for team leads, lead hands, and working leaders)
The Transition from Peer to Leader
Providing Peer-to-Peer Feedback
Managing Conflict
Providing Effective On-the-job Training
Management Development Program Level 1
(2 full-day or 4 half-day sessions)
Leadership Work Styles Assessment
Stress Resilience
Embrace Cultural Awareness
AND MORE!
Management Development Program Level 2
(2 full-day or 4 half-day sessions)
Coaching for Performance
Building a Winning Team
Delegation for Empowerment & Accountability
AND MORE!
Plant Manager Development Program - Part One: Clarify the Vision
Thinking Strategically to Identify Key Initiatives for Plant Success
Focusing on Gains, Not Gaps
Plant Manager Development Program - Part Two: Optimize the Processes
The Operational Priorities Accelerator Model
Assessing the Health of Underlying Manufacturing Processes Causes
Financial Acumen: Identifying Operational Levers Impacting Financial Performance
Plant Manager Development Program - Part Three: Engage the Team
Aligning the Management Team to Achieve the Vision
Safety Leadership: Building a Safety Culture
Emotional Intelligence for Plant Managers
Preparing to Lead: Aspiring Leaders Program
(1 half-day session)
Preparing to Lead: Aspiring Leader
Other Leadership and Development Topics
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Pit Crew Challenge
Training Excellence Workshop
Why HR Relies on Unique Development for
Training in Manufacturing, Logistics, and Operations.
"Well presented and offered valuable tools to promote a positive, productive work environment."
"I have been involved in many types of leadership training over my 27 years in management. Your training is easily the most enjoyable and engaging."
"Very productive and useful program."
"The commitment made me pay more attention to workers and has definitely improved the supervisor/ staff relationship."
"This is the best training class I've ever attended and the most useful tools I've had the opportunity to use. I will continue to use the books I've received to help myself grow and to help the department grow."
"The class was very educational. I would recommend this class for anyone in a leadership role."
"I believe the awareness brought about by training will carry with me as I continue to develop into a stronger leader."
"This training was very valuable and structured in a way that makes it easy to understand and implement. It applied extremely well to the workplace environment."
"I learned a lot of things I did not know about being a leader."
"The presenter was excellent, relevant and approachable."
"Very useful and relative content. Well presented and offered valuable tools to promote a positive, productive work environment."
- Filipe
"Thank you to you and your group, great content. This program should be mandatory for all leaders and future leaders of this organization."
- Shawn
"Thank you for the session. I have been invovled in many types of leadership training over my 27 years in management. Your training is easily the most enjoyable and engaging."
- Robert
"The training was beneficial to me and my team."
- Ronnie
"It was a good class. It reinforced a lot of my current behaviors and was helpful in gaining other’s perspectives."
- Esther
"The classes were very insightful and Greg presented the material in a way that kept you interested and involved. I feel this is training that we should have on a regular interval to keep us fresh and up to date with today's workforce."
- Doug
"I wanted to thank you for the opportunity I had to share with my team in the leadership training, it is really valuable."
- Edgar
"Erik is doing a fantastic job. The guys are totally engaged and having fun while learning. Erik is in the zone!"
- Joel
"Very productive and useful program."
- Daniel
"I want to thank you for the great training that was provided by Kirk and Johanne. It was a wonderful session full of energy."
- Amine
"Engagement was great. Kept us involved. Ted was very knowledgeable."
"I would say this training is one that was well needed. It came at a point when I was getting a bit one-track-minded in managing the daily operations at the plant. The commitment made me pay more attention to workers and has definitely improved the supervisor/staff relationship."
- Jermaine
"This is the best training class I've ever attended and the most useful tools I've had the opportunity to use. I will continue to use the books I've received to help myself grow and to help the department grow."
- Matthew
"The class was very educational I would recommend this class for anyone in a leadership role."
- Tom
"Very informative and filled with useful tools for future success."
- Adam
"Creating healthy work habits take time and a concerted effort. I believe the awareness brought about by training will carry with me as I continue to develop into a stronger leader."
- Eduan
"Learning about different styles and the different ways to engage your employees, hearing other people's opinions. The ideas presented were all valuable information and can't wait to use them further."
"The instructor was amazing at teaching the information in the workbook. He was able to relate this information to real-life situations which I think will help me remember it even better."
"Instructor used great analogies to make ideas stick."
"It was a very good course—Jaime gave us the principal tools, tips, and strategies in order to help us do our job more easily and learn from difficult situations and turn them into opportunities.
Jaime has a lot of experience on these topics. Everything was excellent!"
- Jessica
"I found the training useful and it will definitely help me become a better leader."
- Ben
"Erik did a great job. I do believe it was informational and educational even for some of the long-term managers."
- Ken
"This training was very valuable and structured in a way that makes it easy to understand and implement. It applied extremely well to the workplace environment."
- Renee
"My company put me in the Leadership training program to help me with my new position and it was the best experience. The course and instructor was easy to follow."
- Marcos
"The Front Line Leadership course was a great experience. The instructor was able to engage the whole class and keep everyone interested. The course curriculum was to the point but fun at the same time. Definitely would recommend anyone in a leadership role to attend."
- John
"We were looking for a solid training program to inspire and engage our new supervisors. We want to be sure that our people have the resources and tools to be the next outstanding leaders at our organization. The response was overwhelming from the employees we sent. They all said the training was excellent, the instructor was engaging and interactive with real-life scenarios. Thanks for helping build our next front line leaders!"
"My company approached Unique Training & Development about a growing need within our company to give our frontline leaders more skills to evolve with the ever-changing workforce of today.
Unique worked with us to build a program that not only met our needs, but also exceeded our expectations. They are flexible with scheduling in-person or virtual training sessions. The instructors are very knowledgeable and get great engagement from the attendees. The content has real-world impacts and the attendee feedback is always positive.
The Unique team is easy to work with and their follow-ups are insightful and helpful in tracking how the attendees are using the skills that they took from the classes.
It is always a pleasure to help facilitate and work with Unique Training & Development."
- Derrick
"This program was a homerun for our emerging leaders and was on point with the material presented. The instructors were knowledgeable and engaging throughout the day making it a fun and interactive learning experience for the attendees.
We are looking forward to continuing the partnership with Unique Training & Development, as we continue to drive growth and development in our organization. Thank you!"
- Joel
"Worth the time. Took away more than I expected or believed I had when first having done the course... pieces of the training found their way into situations that occurred subsequent to returning home."
- Ken
"This was a great training session I was challenged, taken out of my comfort zone and helped to evaluate my leadership and what needs improved upon."
- Rick
Leadership Development Built Around Your Organization
Our training seamlessly integrates into your organization,
targeting the challenges you encounter head-on.
Training Impact
Our programs are designed not just as one-off events but as continuous learning journeys. With tools like our Leader Behavior Builder and ongoing support structures, we ensure the skills learned are retained and applied.
Relevance to Daily Operations
Our courses are specifically developed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that supervisors can immediately apply what they learn to their daily challenges.
Flexible Scheduling
We understand the complexities of modern industrial businesses. Our training is available in various formats, including in-person, virtual, and on-demand, to accommodate even the most challenging timetables.
Customization to Fit Your Organization
We customize content to fit your specific operational needs and corporate ethos, making our training an extension of your organizational development strategy.
Training That Hits Home for Supervisors
Our training doesn't just tick boxes; it resonates with supervisors, ensuring they're not just present, but engaged. Here's why it works:
- We tackle the real issues with examples straight from the shop floor.
- Our trainers know the production environment inside and out.
- Supervisors actually look forward to our training—no avoidance, just eagerness.
- We focus on changing behaviors, not just filling heads with knowledge.
- Our scenarios are practical, not hypothetical. Supervisors apply what they learn, making it stick.
- They'll identify key behaviors to change and get the support to make it happen.
Interested in learning more? Let's chat—no strings attached, just a conversation to explore how we can help.
The Plan
Ready to Take The Next Step?
Let's Connect
Click the Contact Us button to book a discovery call and we’ll discuss your needs and how we can help.
Decide on your delivery
You decide which training delivery works best for your organization.
See the results
Experience better conflict resolution, increased employee engagement, and improved operating performance.
Free Guide
Selecting the Perfect Leadership
Training Program for Supervisors
Discover the essential insights every Manufacturing and Supply Chain HR professional must know with our comprehensive free guide. In this expert resource, we distill the key elements that will help you choose a leadership training program that fits seamlessly with your organization’s needs and enhances your supervisors' skills effectively.
Download your copy FREE today!
FAQ's
We've gathered answers to the most common questions we receive. Our goal is to provide you with quick and clear information. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.
Q: What is the ideal group size for training?
A: The ideal group size for training is usually 12 to 25 participants—large enough to leverage the value from discussion and conversation and to ensure engaging activities and simulations, but not so large as to allow people to withdraw and not actively participate or for people to not have their voices heard.
Q: How long should the training sessions be?
A: We generally recommend training sessions of 2.5 to 4 hours. This duration balances comprehensive learning with the practical considerations of supervisors' schedules, and avoids the feeling of “drinking from the firehose”, or having to learn and process a lot of information in a short amount of time. Longer full-day or consecutive, back-to-back day programs can be accommodated based on logistical needs, but we often find that full-day sessions can be difficult for learners who aren’t used to sitting in a classroom setting all day.
Q: How do you deliver training in a multi-shift environment?
A: We offer several flexible delivery options for multi-shift environments, including:
- Scheduling separate morning and afternoon sessions for sufficient participant numbers.
- Organizing training on scheduled days off
- Using our On-Demand learning modules that employees can access at their convenience.
Q: What training solutions do you offer for organizations with budget constraints?
A: Depending on the program's scope, training investments can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per participant. For organizations with limited budgets, our on-demand learning options provide a cost-effective solution for both single topics and comprehensive programs. We also offer one-day workshops for organizations that need to address specific issues or want training on just a few specific topics.
Q: Should I/my company go ahead with the training if we’re concerned we don't have the right people in the supervisory or leadership positions?
A: In most training situations, 10-15% of the people being trained are probably not suitable for that role, but supervisory training can provide valuable insights into their capabilities and potential. It's often beneficial to proceed with training for the existing team, as it can help identify development needs and inform future personnel decisions. Additionally, if you wait until the time when 100% of the leaders are the “right people”, you will likely be waiting much longer than you should be.
Q: Should I do training if other projects are on the go?
A: It’s true that training may have trouble sticking if you've got other high-priority projects underway, because people will be distracted. In some cases, the training may support the implementation of your other projects, so it would be good to do the training in conjunction with those projects. We can also discuss strategies like spaced learning to mitigate potential distractions and integrate training with existing responsibilities.
Q: What is your approach to supervisory training?
A: Our approach is to create a highly relevant, participative learning environment where we use examples that the frontline supervisors, team leaders, and managers can relate to. We use relatable examples to help people feel confident that they can change their leadership approach by adopting new practices and behaviors. We use engaging activities, including roleplaying and simulations, to help make the learning stick.
Q: What topics are covered in your supervisory training programs?
A: Our comprehensive course catalog covers a wide range of essential supervisory skills. Popular topics include effective communication, conflict management, managing and engaging your team, leading change, and addressing behavior and performance issues. A complete list of topics is available at this link.
Q: How customizable are your training programs?
A: Lightly tailoring the training program by including your company logo and terminology is easy. We can also construct custom modules for your organization. Many clients begin with our standard program and explore customization as part of their follow-up training plan.
Q What training delivery formats do you offer?
A: We provide flexible delivery options to meet your needs, including:
- Asynchronous, on-demand learning via our Front Line Leadership On Demand platform.
- In-person, live, instructor-led training sessions at your site or in public workshops.
- Virtual, live, instructor-led training sessions delivered from our professional, multi-camera, virtual training studio.
Q: What is the experience and expertise of your trainers?
A: Our training team has decades of experience in industrial, manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, and operational leadership roles and environments. As a result, the examples that they use and the stories that they tell are highly relevant to frontline supervisors, lead hands, team leaders, and managers. They are also engaging instructors and facilitators who know how to get the best out of the learners and deliver insightful, meaningful training.
Q: How do you measure the effectiveness of your training programs?
A: The training is measured in three distinct ways:
- We measure the learners’ satisfaction with the program so we know that it is relevant to them and that they find it enjoyable and engaging.
- We measure the degree to which they put the learning components that we're teaching in the course into action.
- We look at the link between the impact that the training has on the operating performance of the business, which generally include KPI’s related to production, quality, safety, and efficiency.
Q: Can you provide references or case studies from past clients?
A: Yes, we would be happy to provide references from our satisfied clients over the years if you are considering working with us.
Q: What ongoing support or resources do you offer after the training to sustain the learning?
A: We offer LEAP (Learning Excellence Application Program), a continuous learning program designed to reinforce key concepts and encourage the practical application of learned skills for several months following the training. Please note that LEAP is not available for all topics.
Q: What is the cost of your training programs?
A: Training costs vary depending on the project scope, ranging from approximately $300 to several thousand dollars per participant. Please schedule a discovery meeting with us to discuss your specific situation and receive a proposed training services agreement.
Q: How do you stay updated on industry trends and best practices?
A: We continuously evaluate our curriculum against the latest industry trends and customer needs. Our training programs are revised reguarly—often several times per year—based on client feedback, advancements in learning and development, and evolving leadership concepts.
Q: What learning materials do participants receive from your training programs?
A: Participants in our Front Line Leadership: Strengthen Essentials in-person and live virtual instructor-led programs receive a complete set of training materials, which includes:
- Front Line Leadership totebag
- Front Line Leadership: Strengthen Essentials Workbook
- Two resource books written by Unique Training & Development Founder Irwin Schinkel and President Greg Schinkel, What Great Supervisors Know and Employees Not Doing What You Expect.
- A Leadership Observations memo pad
- Combo pen/highlighter
For on-demand sessions, learning materials are provided electronically through our Front Line Leadership On Demand platform.